Coupling device



Nov. 9, 1937. c. B. KENNEDY f 2,098,423

COUPLING DEVICE Filed July 3, 1956 INVENTOR r 5 Kennedy ATTORN EYPatented Nov. 9, 1937 COUPLING DEVICE Chester B Kennedy, Junction City,Kans. Application July 3, 1936, Serial No. 88,774

7 Claims. v(oi. 285- 110) 7 This invention relates to coupling devices,for example those of the character employed in coupling sections .ofhose, or a hose to a pipe connection, and has for its principal objectto provide a coupling of this character which is connected anddisconnected without the use of tools.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a quick actingcoupling that is locked in coupled condition incidental to pressure offluid flowing therethrough.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, ashereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure,the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accoml5 panyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a longitudinal section through a coupling embodying thefeatures of the present invention and which is shown as employed inconnecting a hose with a pipe fitting.

. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the coupling showing the parts thereof beingmoved from engaging relation.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the coupling on the line 3-3 of Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the coupling showing the parts thereof ininterlocked engagement.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of the parts of the coupling shownin disassembled spaced relation to better illustrate the interlockingfeatures thereof.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

8 designates a quick action coupling constructed in accordance with thepresent invention and which includes interlocking members 2 and 3. Inthe illustrated instance the member 3 includes a head portion 4 having athreaded shank 5 for connecting the member within the internallythreaded end of a shut-ofi' valve or other pipe fitting as indicated at(i. The head 6 includes a cylindrical portion l at the end opposite theshank 5 and an intermediatepolygonal shaped portion 8 whereby a wrenchmay be applied to screw the shank into the fitting 6.

Formed within the head 4 is a pacldng chamber 3 opening inwardly fromthe end ll] of the head 4. The packing chamber 9 has an arcuate innerface 5! extending circumferentially of the flow channel l2 that extendsthrough the shank and the polygonal shaped portion of the head. Theinner end of the recess is of substantially larger diameter than thechannel to provide an encircling V- shaped. rib l3 for interengaging acorresponding shaped end it of a compressible packing ring l5. Thepacking ring :5 has a rounded periphery 56 :member.

closely engaging the rounded contour of the reces's. The inner diameterof the packing ring preferablyconforms to the inner diameter of the flowchannel to forin a smooth continuation thereof when the packing is inposition within the coupling member. The outer end ofthe packing ringextends slightly beyond the face Ill of the coupling member and has atapered seating portion I! to be engaged by a'centering rib on the othercoupling member, later described.

Extending through an opening l8 in the side wall of the coupling memberat a point substantially midway of the packing recess, is a locking pinit having a head ZG'engaging in 'a tapered counter-bore 2i whereby thehead forms a smooth continuation of the packing recess; and is closelyengaged by the packing ring in sucha manner that the inherentexpansibi'lity' of the packing retains the shank 22 of the locking pinl9 in projected position.

Formed on the head 4 diametrically opposite the locking pin is ahook-like arm 23 of substantially arcuate shape to provide a roundedseat 24-bitsetoutwardly from the body 7 of the coupling asemicylindrical bar portion 25 extendingacross an opening 25 that isformed in the hook-shaped arm. The bar portion thus cooperates with theportions of the arm at the sides of the opening to The free end of thearm terminates in form a loop adapted to be engaged by a hooked tongueon the other coupling member now to be described.

The coupling member 2 includes a head zlhaving a cylindrical portion 28provided with an end 28 adapted to abut against an end I ll of the othercoupling member when the parts are in intercoupled position. The headalso includes a polygonal shaped portion 3!! terminating in anexternally grooved nipple 3| that is adapted to engage within a hose 32to interconnect the hose with the coupling member. To insure retentionof the hose, the end thereof extending over the nipple may be providedwith a suitable clamp as indicated at 33, to contract the hose and pressit I to overlap a flattened boss 35 on the other 0011- pling member tocooperate with the locking pin E9. The lug 34 has on opening 36 thereinto engage over the shank 22 of the lockingpin I9 when the parts are incoupled position. The

outer face 3? of the lug has'a concavity 38 thegroove Allis a tongue 4|which engages withv in theopening of the hook-shaped loop as preiviouslymentioned. The terminal end 42 of the Formed on the opposite side of thecoupling member 2 is a transverse rib shapedboss 39 that Z is adapted toengage the transverse seat 24 of the hook-shaped arm23. Formedon thecylindrical head portion in parallel relation with'the transverse rib isa groove corresponding to the rounded contour of the bar portion 25 ofthe loop.

Also formed on the coupling head midway be tween'theends oftherib andextending over tongue is spaced from the rear edge 43 0f the groove asuflicient distance to' provide for free :passage of the bar. portion ofthe hook-like arm so that it may be seated in the groove and engagedunder the tongue as shown in Fig. 1. 1

In order to center the coupling members and to support the outer end ofthe packing ring the -flat end face of the coupling member 2 has a.conical shaped annulus 44 encircling the flow channel therein andadapted to engage within.

the conical seat formed withinthe packing ring when the parts of thecoupling are interco n v inected as now to be described.

'In using a coupling the member 3 is threaded within the stop valve asshown in Fig. 1, while the other member is attached to the hose bysliding the end of the hose over the nipple3l 'thereof and securing'itbythe clamp 33; The

locking pin is inserted into: the opening l8 by I applying it fromwithin the packing recess so that and the shank projects from the headin the thehead thereof seats within the counter-bore manner of a latch.The packing ring'is inserted 'through the open end of the packing recessso that the rounded periphery thereof engages in the rounded surface ofthe packing chamber. When the packing ring is inserted the innerbevelled end thereof engages over the internal rib 13. When thepackingis thus applied it re tains the locking pin I inprojectedposition as "showninFig. 2. j I 'To couple'the members, the tongue 4| ispassed through. the opening 26 from theseat side of the hook so that itengages over the bar portion 25 thereof when thebar portion is piv-'otally engaged in the groove 40. When the coupling members are thusengagedthe bar portion of the hook-like arm cooperates with the groove:Mland tongue 4! to form a. hinge whereon'the "parts of the coupling maypivot when moved into abutting relation as shown in Fig. 4.

Asthe coupling'members are brought together the. cone-shapedannulus onthe member 2' will fente'rgwithin the recess of the packing ring to'center the' coupling members and support the packing l ring in centeredposition Within the packing recess. As the parts are. brought intovaligning,registry the lug 3}! will engage the lock- 7 ing pin todepress itwithin the opening I 8 against {the resiliency of the packing:a sufficient distance so that the outer end'of the lug will ride overthe locking pin. Whenthe parts are in abutting relation the locking pinregisters with the Opening 36, whereon the resilient character of thepacking ring urges the locking pin into therecess for rigidlyinterlocking the coupling mem-' bers in abutting relation.

' When the stop valve 6 is opened, pressure of the fluid moving throughthe packing ring will 7 urge the packing ring against the head of thelocking pin so as to prevent any accidental displacement of the pinthat'might tend to release the coupling members. When it is desired todisengagethe coupling members, the stop valve is closed whereupon thepressure is relieved through the hose. .The thumb may then be pressedagainst the locking pin to effect sumcient retraction thereof to permitbreaking open of the coupling members on their hinge connection. Afterthe lug is disengaged from the lock ing pin and the parts are moved inthe position shown in Fig. 2, the tongue of the coupling member 2 may bereadily disengaged from the bar 25 of the other coupling member todisconnect the hose. 1

From the foregoing, it is obvious that I have provided 'a' quick actingcoupling that may be readily employed in connecting a hose or the'likewithout the use of too-ls such as are necessary in ,various couplingsemploying threaded connections. It is obvious that the packing ring notonly forms a seal between the coupling members a but it provides meansfor automatically retaining thelocking piniin projected position afterit engaged. withthe lug of theother coupling memher; then, when thefluidi s flowing throughTthe coupling, the pressure thereof. actinginternally within the packing ,ring, urges the packing ring outwardly,to not onlyenhance the seal between 1 the couplingmembers' bu'ttoprevent accidental retractive movement of the locking pin that-mightWhile I have illustratedand described the invention as used to connectahose with-a pipe fitting it is obvious that it may be used forconnection of various types of conduits and the like without departingfromthe spirit of the invention. It is-also' obvious thatother methodsofsecuring the hose section to the body of the cou- 'pling member 2 maybeprovided.

What I claim and desireto, secure by Letters Patent is; 5'

1. A coupling includinga pair of members, interlocking means on therespective members, a resilientpacking carried by one of the members andsealingly engaging with the other, and latch means on the respectivemembers yieldingly retained in latching engagement responsive topressure exerted'against saidv packing.

2. A couplingincluding a pair of members, in-

Tterlockingmeans on the respective members-,la resilient packing carriedby one of the members and engaged withthe other, a latching lug on oneof the members, and a latch pin on the other member yieldingly' engaged.by the. packing to J retain said latchpin in latchingengagementwith thelatching lug.

tend toperrnit'unlocking of the coupling members.

3. A hose coupling including; a pair of mem- 'abers, interengaginghook-shaped projections on the respective members and. arranged to forma hinge connection between said members, latch means connectingthemembers and releasable to 'effecthinging movement of the membersrelative to each other, and means responsive to pressure of *fluidflowing through the coupling for preventing #15 release of the latchmeans.

4. A coupling including a pair of members, interengaging hook-shapedarms on the respective members and arranged to form a hinge connectionbetween said members, a resilient packing carried by one of the membersand sealingly engaged with the other, a latch lug on one of the members,and a latch pin on the other member yieldingly retained in projectedposition to engage the latch lug responsive to pressure applied to thepacking.

5. A coupling including a pair of -i embers, a hook-shaped loop on oneof the members, a hook on the other member engaging in said hookshapedloop to provide an interlocking connection between said members, meansforming a part of,

said interlocking connection for preventing rotative movement of themembers relatively to each other, latch means connecting the members,and means responsive to pressure of fluid flowing through the couplingfor retaining the latch means in engaging position.

6. A coupling including a pair of members one of which has a packingchamber, a hook-shaped loop on one of the members, a hook on the othermember engaging in said hook-shaped loop to provide a hinge connectionbetween said members, a packing in said packing chamber, a latch pinslidable in the member'having the packing chamber and having a headengaging said packing, and a latch lug on the. other member engageablewith said latch pin to prevent hinging movemerit of said members.

7. A coupling including a pair of tubular members, intercoupling meansfor the tubular memhere including locking means movable on one of I ingmeans in looking engagement with said cooperative means on the othertubular member. CHESTER B. KENNEDY.

